Diagnosis and presenting features of autoimmune hepatitis at a central referral hospital in South Africa
Introduction Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) has scarcely been reported on in patients of black African descent. Similarly, few studies have focused on the relationship between AIH and Human-Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Aim We aim to describe the presenting features of AIH from a single...
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South African Medical Association
2024-04-01
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| Series: | South African Medical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/1646 |
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| author | Y Maharaj V G Naidoo |
| author_facet | Y Maharaj V G Naidoo |
| author_sort | Y Maharaj |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) has scarcely been reported on in patients of black African descent. Similarly, few studies have focused on the relationship between AIH and Human-Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection.
Aim
We aim to describe the presenting features of AIH from a single referral centre in a Sub-Sahara African setting. We also compare the presenting features of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients.
Methods
This study was a retrospective chart review. Patients were included if they fulfilled criteria for the International AIH Group simplified score for probable or definite AIH, were 18 years or older at inclusion, and attended the adult Gastroenterology clinic at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH) for the period 1/1/2015 to 31/12/2020 on at least 2 occasions.
Results
Forty cases were included, of which 33 (82.5%) were female and 33 (82.5%) were black African. Median age at diagnosis was 26 years. A diagnosis of a coexistent autoimmune disease was made in 22.5% of patients, with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) being the most common (12.5%). Sixteen patients were HIV-infected, all of whom were female (p =0.03), with a significantly older age of disease onset as compared to their HIV-uninfected counterparts (median age 38 vs 17.5 years, p <0.001).
Conclusion
AIH is a disease most commonly affecting young females. Female sex and older age of onset is associated with AIH in HIV-infected individuals.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bfe6f74c95f64c31b45161ebf8d45ace |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0256-9574 2078-5135 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | South African Medical Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-bfe6f74c95f64c31b45161ebf8d45ace2025-02-10T12:26:18ZengSouth African Medical AssociationSouth African Medical Journal0256-95742078-51352024-04-01114410.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i4.1646Diagnosis and presenting features of autoimmune hepatitis at a central referral hospital in South AfricaY Maharaj0https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6194-7419V G Naidoo1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3774-9608Division of Internal Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South AfricaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Group, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa Introduction Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) has scarcely been reported on in patients of black African descent. Similarly, few studies have focused on the relationship between AIH and Human-Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Aim We aim to describe the presenting features of AIH from a single referral centre in a Sub-Sahara African setting. We also compare the presenting features of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients. Methods This study was a retrospective chart review. Patients were included if they fulfilled criteria for the International AIH Group simplified score for probable or definite AIH, were 18 years or older at inclusion, and attended the adult Gastroenterology clinic at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH) for the period 1/1/2015 to 31/12/2020 on at least 2 occasions. Results Forty cases were included, of which 33 (82.5%) were female and 33 (82.5%) were black African. Median age at diagnosis was 26 years. A diagnosis of a coexistent autoimmune disease was made in 22.5% of patients, with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) being the most common (12.5%). Sixteen patients were HIV-infected, all of whom were female (p =0.03), with a significantly older age of disease onset as compared to their HIV-uninfected counterparts (median age 38 vs 17.5 years, p <0.001). Conclusion AIH is a disease most commonly affecting young females. Female sex and older age of onset is associated with AIH in HIV-infected individuals. https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/1646South Africaautoimmune hepatitiscirrhosisHIV |
| spellingShingle | Y Maharaj V G Naidoo Diagnosis and presenting features of autoimmune hepatitis at a central referral hospital in South Africa South African Medical Journal South Africa autoimmune hepatitis cirrhosis HIV |
| title | Diagnosis and presenting features of autoimmune hepatitis at a central referral hospital in South Africa |
| title_full | Diagnosis and presenting features of autoimmune hepatitis at a central referral hospital in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Diagnosis and presenting features of autoimmune hepatitis at a central referral hospital in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diagnosis and presenting features of autoimmune hepatitis at a central referral hospital in South Africa |
| title_short | Diagnosis and presenting features of autoimmune hepatitis at a central referral hospital in South Africa |
| title_sort | diagnosis and presenting features of autoimmune hepatitis at a central referral hospital in south africa |
| topic | South Africa autoimmune hepatitis cirrhosis HIV |
| url | https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/1646 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ymaharaj diagnosisandpresentingfeaturesofautoimmunehepatitisatacentralreferralhospitalinsouthafrica AT vgnaidoo diagnosisandpresentingfeaturesofautoimmunehepatitisatacentralreferralhospitalinsouthafrica |